Method of displaying information by an electronic price label

Abstract

A method of displaying information associated with a special promotion by an electronic price label (EPL) which saves bandwidth at a start time of the special promotion. The method includes the steps of receiving a number of first messages containing the second information by the EPL prior to the special promotion, storing the second information in a second memory location within the EPL while the first information is being stored within a first memory location in the EPL by the EPL prior to the special promotion, receiving a second message containing a command to display the second information by the EPL at about the time of the special promotion, reading the second information from the second memory location by the EPL, and displaying the second information by the EPL.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of displaying second information associated with a special promotion of a product following first information by an electronic price label (EPL) comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a number of first messages containing the second information by the EPL prior to the special promotion;   (b) storing the second information in a second memory location within the EPL while the first information is being stored within a first memory location in the EPL by the EPL prior to the special promotion;   (c) receiving a second message containing a command to display the second information by the EPL at about the time of the special promotion;   (d) reading the second information from the second memory location by the EPL; and   (e) displaying the second information by the EPL.   
     
     
       2. A method of displaying second information in connection with a special promotion of a product following first information by an electronic price label (EPL) comprising the steps of: (a) storing the second information in a record associated with the EPL;   (b) sending a number of first messages to the EPL in advance of the special promotion containing the second information;   (c) receiving the first messages by the EPL;   (d) storing the second information in a second portion of a memory by the EPL while the first information is being stored in a first portion of the memory by the EPL prior to the special promotion;   (e) sending a second message to the EPL at about a start time for the special promotion containing a command to display the second information;   (f) receiving the second message by the EPL;   (g) reading the second information from the memory by the EPL; and   (h) displaying the second information by the EPL.   
     
     
       3. A method of displaying second information in connection with a special promotion of a product following first information by an electronic price label (EPL) comprising the steps of: (a) storing a number of types of second information in a first record associated with the EPL;   (b) storing a memory location in the first record;   (c) storing a type identifier in the first record for each type of second information;   (d) recording an operator choice for one of the type identifiers;   (e) reading the first record to obtain the second information associated with the one type identifier and the memory location;   (f) sending a first message to the EPL in advance of the special promotion, while the EPL is displaying the first information, containing the second information for the one type identifier, and a command to store the second information for the one type identifier in the memory location; and   (g) sending a second message to the EPL at about a scheduled start time for the special promotion containing a command to display the second information.   
     
     
       4. An electronic price label (EPL) system comprising: a computer which sends a number of first and second messages containing first and second information, and a third message containing a command to display the second information, wherein the computer sends the second messages prior to a special promotion of a product, and wherein the computer sends the third message at about a start time of the special promotion; and   an EPL, including a display;   a memory containing a first portion for storing the first information from the computer and a second portion for storing the second information from the computer; and   a control circuit which stores the first information in the first portion and the second information in the second portion, receives the third message, reads the second information from the second portion, and displays the second information.     
     
     
       5. An electronic price label (EPL) comprising: a display;   a memory containing a first portion for storing first information and a second portion for storing second information; and a control circuit which stores the first information in the first portion and the second information in the second portion, receives the third message, reads the second information from the second portion, and displays the second information.